The clothing is available through Fechheimer Brothers, a Cincinnati-based company that, according to its Web site, has been in business since 1842. The company site says it "serves police, fire and EMS, corrections, transportation, military, military schools, umpires, postal and corporate" clients. It owns clothing manufacturing plants in the U.S. and has "manufacturing partners in Central and South America, Europe, Africa and Asia... ." The company did not return calls asking where the FireWear brand in question is manufactured.

According to the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, breathing high levels of antimony over an extended period of time can irritate the eyes and lungs and cause problems with the lungs, heart, and stomach. The heavy metal, which is related to arsenic, has been linked to health problems when it "leaches out" of the garments over time from laundering and regular use. Hair analysis by a Chicago clinical laboratory showed that Luca had about four times the medically acceptable level of antimony in his body.

CDC's Blosser said investigations of this type normally take several months. "There are no findings at this point," Blosser said. "We have not yet examined all the information."

Investigations typically include discussion with the employer and employees. Blosser said after what he termed the "technical investigation," the CDC will send a report to the city, the fire department, and the representatives of the firefighters, along with recommendations. "We will provide them with some preliminary recommendations as we proceed to our final recommendations," Blosser said. "But we have no authority to make binding mandates to the employer. We can only issue a set of recommendations. Historically, our recommendations are taken seriously."

Firefighters with at least two other Florida departments, in Tamarac and Hillsborough County, wear FireWear uniform pants. While they have not reported any problems, both departments are cooperating with doctors in the federal probe.

The city of Charleston, S.C., started buying the pants last year, following local media reports that the polyester uniforms then in use did not meet national standards. While city officials and Charleston firefighters are aware of the Boca Raton situation, Union President Bill Haigler has been quoted as saying he is pleased with the new uniforms and has not heard any complaints from his members. Boca Raton city officials, while refusing to process the firefighters' workers compensation claims or concede that any real danger exists, have bowed to the union's demand for plain cotton uniform pants. The Boca Raton firefighters are represented by Coral Gables workers' compensation attorney Richard Sicking.